NSW INDEPENDENT TRIAL EXAMS – 2006
BIOLOGY (PRELIMINARY EXAM)
MARKING GUIDELINES
Section I
1
B
2
A
3
B
4
B
5
B
6
C
7
D
8
B
9
C
10
A
11
A
12
A
13
D
14
C
15
A
Section II
Question 16(a)
Criteria
Marks
Student describes ONE scientific theory relating to the evolution of the chemicals of life.
1
Answers may include: Either chemicals for life came from outer space or chemicals for life were formed on
Earth.
Question 16(b)
Criteria
Student discusses the significance of the theory relating to the evolution of the chemicals
of life in our understanding of the origin of life.
Marks
2
Question 17(a)
Criteria
Student answers question correctly, with explanation.
Answers may include: Snakes would all die out. They rely solely on lizards for food.
Marks
2
Question 17(b)
Criteria
Marks
Students explain why organisms in food webs with a low biodiversity (such as Food Web
1
B) are at risk of dying out.
Answers may include: Many organism rely on one food source only, so if one link in the chain disappears
then others further along the chain will also be effected.
Question 17(c)
Criteria
Marks
Student outlines the role of decomposers in a natural ecosystem.
1
Answers may include: Decomposers break down organic matter and return nutrients to the soil/carbon to the
atmosphere.
Question 18(a)
Criteria
No mark for name, but method must be appropriate for the type of organism sampled. eg.
quadrats, transects, capture/mark/recapture.
Marks
3
Question 18(b)
Criteria
Includes factor and how it affects the population of organisms eg. light availability,
predators, prey
Marks
2
Question 18(c)
Criteria
Student describes ONE trophic interaction between the named plant or animal they studied
and ONE other organism.
Answers may include: predator-prey relationships eg. predator reduces the population size.
Marks
1
NSW Independent Trial Exams 2006 – Biology (Preliminary Examination): Marking Criteria - Page 1
Question 18(d)
Criteria
Student identifies TWO impacts humans have had on the area they studied. eg. pollution,
competition for space/resources.
Marks
2
Question 19(a)
Criteria
Marks
Student defines procaryotic organism.
1
Answer may include: Small unicellular organism which lacks a nuclear membrane and membrane-bound
organelles.
Question 19(b)(i)
Criteria
Student describes the main features of the environment their chosen organism occupies.
Answers will vary depending on the organism chosen.
Question 19(b)(ii)
Criteria
Student identifies the role the organism plays in its ecosystem.
Question 20(a)
Criteria
Student outlines modern day cell theory.
Answers may include:
Cells are the smallest units of life.
All living things are made of cells.
All living cells come from pre-existing cells.
Marks
2
Marks
2
Marks
1
Question 20(b)
Criteria
Marks
Student assesses the impact of technology, including the light microscope, on the
5
development of cell theory.
Answers may include: Light microscope allows structures in cells to be visible. Staining techniques allow us
to identify organelles and chemicals in the cell. The electron microscope allowed much greater detail to be
observed. X-ray diffraction techniques, laser scanning and computer imaging also allow us to produce
detailed structures of the chemicals and organelles in cells.
Question 21
Criteria
Marks
Student describes ONE long-term consequence of two species competing for the same
3
resource.
Answers may include: The better adapted/more efficient species will eventually out compete the less efficient
species whose numbers will decline.
Question 22(a)
Criteria
Marks
Student distinguishes between autotrophs and heterotrophs.
2
Answers may include: Autotrophs are “self-feeding” i.e. use the energy from sunlight to convert water and
carbon dioxide into sugar. Heterotrophs “feed on others”. They must obtain their energy from other sources.
Question 22(b)
Criteria
Student identifies the materials required for photosynthesis.
Answers may include: Water, carbon dioxide and light energy.
Marks
2
NSW Independent Trial Exams 2006 – Biology (Preliminary Examination): Marking Criteria - Page 2
Question 22(c)
Criteria
Marks
Student outlines the role of photosynthesis in ecosystems.
2
Answers may include: Photosynthesis converts energy into a form that can be used by organisms (sugar).
Question 23
Criteria
Student fills out table correctly.
Answers may include:
Insect
Fish
Tracheae
Gills
A highly vascularized
Tracheae area system
surface over which
of interconnecting
water flows to allow
tubes open to the
the exchange of gases
environment through
pores
Marks
3
Frog
Skin and lungs
Frogs have a very well
developed blood supply
to the skin. This helps
to facilitate the
diffusion of oxygen.
They also have lungs
but not as well
developed as in
mammals
Mammal
Lungs
Gaseous exchange
occurs across thousands
of tiny air sacs called
alveoli
Question 24(a)
Criteria
Student provides a description of what is occurring at each phase.
Marks
5
Question 24(b)
Criteria
Marks
Student explains the role of mitosis in a growing plant.
2
Answers may include: Mitosis replicates cells to replace damaged or dead cells or new cells for growth.
Question 24(c)
Criteria
Student states where in a growing plant mitosis is likely to be found occurring.
Answers may include: At the growing tips-shoot tips or root tips.
Question 25
Criteria
Student draws a table with two column headings - palaeontological evidence, geological
evidence with information under each column. Must list specific examples such as
stromatolites/cyanobacteria similar to ancient microfossils etc.
Marks
1
Marks
4
Question 26(a)
Criteria
Marks
Student identifies THREE pieces of evidence that supports the theory that Australia was
3
once part of a giant landmass called Gondwanaland.
Answers may include: Matching continental margins, mid-ocean ridges, common fossils on Gondwana
continents, presence of marsupials, etc.
Question 26(b)
Criteria
Student provides a good description of how evidence mentioned in (a) supports the theory.
Marks
3
NSW Independent Trial Exams 2006 – Biology (Preliminary Examination): Marking Criteria - Page 3
Question 27
Criteria
“Climate change and Human factors have had a major affect on the distribution and
abundance of Australian species. Fossil evidence from areas such as Riversleigh and
Naracoorte support this theory”
Marks
9
Student assesses the above statement, providing specific examples.
Answers may include: Climate change- increase temp combined with reduction in available water caused
rainforests to decline (with small isolated pockets remaining eg Palm valley in NT) and woodlands and
grasslands to flourish. Adaptive radiation occurred in marsupial groups.
Human impact – Europeans modified the environment by felling trees and forest, agriculture causing the
extinction of many native animals. They also introduced foreign animals and plants into the environment e.g.
rabbits, foxes, deer etc. that quickly became pests as they had no natural predators.
The Preliminary examination, marking guidelines/suggested answers and ‘mapping grid’
have been produced to help prepare students for the HSC to the best of our ability.
Individual teachers/schools may alter parts of this product to suit their own requirement.
NSW Independent Trial Exams 2006 – Biology (Preliminary Examination): Marking Criteria - Page 4